Scouring means



May 2, 1939- A. M. GooDLoE 2,156,494

scoURING MENS Filed Feb. l0, 1938 gw! glug@ f@ INVENTOR. lffezjf. 62nd/Zoe,

ATTORNEY.

:Patented :May 2, 1939 Alfred M. Goodloe, Roanoke, Va., assigner to Metal Textile Corporation, West ranze, N. J., aIcorpoi-ation of 'Delaware Application February 10,-' .1938, Serial No. 1189.742'` z '(01. 15'2o9) 'This invention relates, g/enerally, to an implement or tool-for scraping or abrading surfaces and to clean the same; and the invention has reference, more particularly,to a novel device which g is especially-adapted for use in removing rust or like products ofcorrosion, incrustations of dirt, y or deposits ofrother undesired substances from surfaces to which they adhere.

'This invention has for an object to provide a novel implement or tool which may be easily grasped and manipulated for rubbingover a surface to be cleaned, and which is provided with a novel working face of abrasive metallic mesh, together with means for both supporting and il backing said mesh forfunctional operation, as well as for detachably mounting said mesh in connection with the handleportion of the tool, subject toremoval and replacement when, by wear, the serviceable life of said mesh is at an end. Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is 3 5 shown in the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of the novel abrading tool or scraper according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a top ory plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a longi- .tudinal sectiontherethrough, taken on line 3 3 I0 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a'transverse section therethrough, taken on line l--l in Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary face view of a preferred form of metallic mesh for use as the operative facing of the tool or implement. Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts. v

Referring to said drawing, the reference character I0 indicates the backing member. This backing member is`plferably made of a relatively soft and more or less springy material.. I have found that balsa wood is very well adapted to serve as said backing member, for the reason that the same is of relatively soft character, and on this account will permit the metallic mesh material, hereinafter described, to suiliciently embed itself or be gripped by the comparatively soft body thereof as to hold the mesh fabric against undue creeping or relative movement when backed thereby and rubbed over the surface under treatment. Engaged with-said backing member I0, so as to be anchored thereto in upstanding projection from the inner side or face thereof, are one or `more externally screwthreaded studs II. Preferably these studs are provided with heads I2 disposed in countersuni: y sockets I3 formed in the outerside or face of said backing member, so as to be disposed within the. plane of'said side or face. The studs see'x'- tend from said heads I2 through the material of "5 said backing member I0, so that the free endportions thereof project from the inner side orface of the latter as stated. The studs are retained in such ailixed relation to the backing member Illlby nuts I4 which are turnedhome 1o against said inner side or face of the backingV member. f Said backing member I0 may be made of any' desired peripheral shape and of suitable thickness, but preferably the outer peripheral Imargins 15 .of the outer side or face thereof are rounded yas indicated at I5. Formed along the marginal portions of the inner side or face of said backing member I0, is a peripheral raised bossv I6, preferably of a substantial width.

' The reference character I'I indicates the handle block element of the tool or implement, the same corresponding substantially in peripheral shape and size of the peripheral shape and slae of the backing member I 0. This handle block is pref- 25 erably made of a relatively hard and tough material as compared with the softer material of the backing member. Ihave found `that a comparatively hard Wood is satisfactory for the purposes, but it will be understood that other mate- 30 rials, such as molded plastics or evenmetaLcan be used therefor if desired. Integrally formed in connection with said handle block, to project downwardly from andcontiguous to the periph-'- eral margins thereof, is a gripper bead or flange 35 I8, to the face plane of which the plane of the bottom or inner face of handle block is inwardly offset to thereby provide a receiving space I9 for the marginal portions of the metallic mesh material hereinafter described, when the latte'ris 40..

operatively assembled with the backing member in connection with said handle block. vSaid handle block is provided with perpendicular through openings 20 corresponding to the positions of the studs II of said backing member, so that the 45 latter may extend upwardly through said handle block. Said openings 20, at their' upper ends, terminate in diametrically enlarged recesses lI which are countersunk below the plane of the upper or outer'side or face of said handle block. 'I'he upper free ends of said studs :Il project into said recesses 2| when said backing member and handle block are assembled together, and detachable4 wing-nuts 21 are applied to said stud ends l handle block in such assembled relation.

'Ihe working tace of the tool or implement is formed by a metallic mesh fabric 23, one or Amore layers of which are superposed across the outer face of said backing member Il, with their marginal portions 24 turned upwardly around the curved periphery I6 of the latter, and then inwardly across the marginal boss Ii which borders the upper' or inner face of saidbacking member. To so apply said metallic mesh fabric 23 to the backing member I0, the handle block I1 is yfirst released and removed, so that the fabric can be related to the backing member in the manner above stated, after which the handle `block is reengaged over the studs I|and the -wing-nuts 22VA are applied and screwed home upon the latter. In this manner, the handle block is forced down toward the backing member, thereby causing the gripper bead or flange I8 thereof totightly'clamp the inturned marginal portions 24 of the fabric 23 between the same and the face of said boss I6; the receiving space 'I8 inwardly of the gripper `-bead orflange Il and the boss I6, which is provided intermediate the handle block and backing member, provides a chamber in which the inwardlyprotruding margins of the fabric 2l nrw lodge.

In order to prevent exercise of breaking or splitting strains or stresses upon the relatively soft backing member, stop bosses 25 are formed at the under or inner side of said handle-block concentric to the studs Il. by engagement with the nuts I4 limit any excess movement of the handle block and backing mel'ri ber one toward the other beyond that required to assure ilrm gripping of the marginalportions 24 of the fabric 23 by'and between the gripper bead or flange I8 and the boss IB.

Owing to the relatively soft character of the backing member material, when the fabric v23 is stretched across the operative face thereof and secured, and when thereafter the fabric thus backed is rubbed back and forth over a surface desired to be abraded or scraped, the upward pressure on the fabric causes the same to press against the relatively yieldable backing member material so as to dig into the'same to a limited but sutilcient extent to hold the same against creeping, and consequently against pulling or stretching strains which might otherwise tend to disrupt the fabric or otherwise too soon diminish its useful life and functional emciency.

The metallic mesh fabric may be of various types, and fabricated from any suitable selected metallic strand material. Specically, however, the most desirable form of mesh fabric is one that is knitted from metallic wire of any desired cross sectional shape. Preferably a metallic wire of fiat or ribbon-like form when knitted to provide interlinked loops (see ,Fig provides the most efficient form of mesh fabric for abradu l 2,150,494 "for separably-retaining said backing member andl These stop bosses,-

function, since the twists anda 1118 and scraping .Y bends of the loops formed from such dat or ribbon-like wire produce, throughout the area of the fabric, a multiplicity of comparatively sharp chisel-like projections extending in various angular directions, so that not only is a strong and emcient scraping effect attained in use, but such scraping effect is produced no matter what direcltion of movement may be imparted to the tool or implement-,when rubbed upon and overa surface under treatment.

It is desirable to provide the longitudinal sides of the handle block i1 with longitudinauy extending and indenting finger grip channels 26- of rounded or concave cross-sectional shape,

thereby facilitating the grasping of the tool or implement by the user, and assuring tight hold thereupon when manipulating the same.

From the above it will be apparent that this invention provides avery simple and yet emcient `abrading or scraping tool for use in cleaning surfaces to which it is operatively applied. The separable arrangement of the handle block, backing member and metallic mesh fabric permits easy and quick removal of the' fabric when Worn so that new pieces of fabric may be replaced and the useful life of the tool or implement renewed as often as required.

I am aware that various changes could be made in the above `described construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof as claimed; It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. Animplement for the purposes set forth, comprising a substantially rigid at faced backing member, a handle block separably superposed on said backing member, a facing of metallic mesh fabric engaged over said backing member with its marginal portions inturned over and around the peripheral portions of said backing member, said handle block having raised gripping portions on its under side to cooperate with in said backing member is made of balsa wood and said facing comprises a metallic fabric knitted from flat ribbon-shaped wire.

' ALFRED M. GOODLOE. 

